NHL teams have a bevy of medical professionals available on-site to assist ill and injured players during games, but did you know that team dentists are also among those available to respond?
Even a mouth guard or goalie’s helmet cannot completely prevent lacerated tongues, broken or missing teeth, shattered jaws, and exposed nerve tissue. Most of the time, the dentist merely patches things up so that the player can finish the game, knowing full well that a more permanent solution will have to come later. Even so, plenty of teeth are long gone by the time their player reaches the NHL.
The NHL Team Dentists Association was formed in 1992 by the Nordiques’ dentist, Jean-Luc Dion, and has been forwarding medical records, swapping tips, and sharing wisdom ever since, meeting once yearly during the All-Star break. In Boston, Dr. Edwin Riley III has been with the Bruins since 1995, and yes, he and the other medical staff all got Stanley Cup rings in 2011.
Not all players opt for a dazzling smile. David Pastrnak’s front teeth were noticeably chipped back in November thanks to a high stick taken to the face, but he preferred just to have the sharp edges smoothed. Like the badass that he is, he wanted to own the look, just like a throwback to NHLers of yesteryear.
Read on for more details of the dentists behind the NHL’s most intriguing smiles... (probably not for the faintest of heart, or those who already suffer with anxiety about dental procedures) The Globe And Mail